Columbia is for the Birds... And Bird Watchers!

There are many reasons to love Columbia - the food, the festivals, the art, the music, the people - but many have an affinity for this college town for the opportunities it offers for an outdoor escape. City parks, state parks and trails galore make Columbia an outdoor enthusiast's go-to in Central Missouri. The same parks and trails also make Columbia a bird-watcher's paradise, too.

Missouri's diversity of natural habitat means that over 320 species of birds regularly visit the state providing "birders" of all stripes - whether casual, beginner or experienced - the opportunity to catch a colorful array of avian creatures in their natural settings.

“Columbia is an awesome place to be a birder," says Sarah Kendrick, state ornithologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation. "Columbia's extensive trail systems and public spaces provide a lot of green space for birds to use year-round. Public lands just outside of town are also great for birding."

The Great Missouri Birding Trail, a statewide initiative between the Missouri Bird Conservation Foundation and the Missouri Department of Conservation, is a great resource for anyone interested in bird-watching in the "Show-Me State."

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The Birding Trail is comprised of over 170 designated locations around the state where birders will find the most success with their observations. The Great Missouri Birding Trail website also features interactive maps of the six distinct birding regions, details on Missouri's bird habitats, tips for successful birding, lists of bird checklists based on region, and additional helpful information for anyone interested in bird-watching.

Naturally, birds can be observed at locations not listed on the map, however, Kendrick says that the Birding Trail is comprised of the "best of the best" locations in Missouri for bird watchers. And, it's a great starting point when trying to find a good place to go.

Columbia is the epicenter of the Central region of the Great Missouri Bird Trail and those looking to spot a feathered find have 15 locations within 20 miles of Columbia that are part of the Birding Trail.

One of Missouri's most celebrated birding areas, Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, is located a mere 15 minutes southwest from the heart Columbia. This conservation area, which abuts the Missouri River, features 4,286 acres comprised mainly of wetlands, woodlands and prairie, and is designated as an important ornithology area by the Audubon Society of Missouri. As such, Eagle Bluffs is well known for shorebird and migratory game bird viewing, making it one of the best birding locations in the state.

"Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area is my favorite place to bird," says Kendrick. "Its wetland pools and forest tracts along the Missouri River attract a diverse array of species. In fact, there have been 291 species reported on eBird.org! You can find songbirds, waterbirds, waterfowl, raptors and everything in between. Wetlands are our most productive habitat here in Missouri and Eagle Bluffs is a great example of that.”

In addition to Eagle Bluffs, there are many other popular city and state parks, nature areas and conservation areas that double as great birding spots.

The Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area, located to the north of Columbia and very close to Finger Lakes State Park (161 species), has 208 species identified while Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, located to the southwest of Columbia, has 203 identified species of birds. The nine-mile MKT Nature and Fitness Trail, which begins in downtown Columbia and connects with the 240-mile

Katy Trail State Park near McBaine, MO, has 169 species reported. Twin Lakes Recreation Area boasts 170 species, the Grindstone Nature Area has 177 species and the Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary has 166 identified species of birds. This is just a highlight of a few of the "hot spots" along the Great Missouri Birding Trail around Columbia.

Off of the Great Birding Trail, there are still more hot spots in the Columbia area. Three locations of note include the two additional areas managed by the Columbia Audubon Society: The Albert Children's Wildlife Area and the Wild Haven Nature Area. The 78-acre Albert Children's Wildlife Area, located about 10 miles northeast of Columbia, is a reclaimed stripmine with a mixed landscape of prairie and wetlands where 140 species have been identified. The Wild Haven Nature Area is a 103-acre tract on the northeast edge of Columbia consisting mainly of mature forest along a mile-long stretch of Hinkson Creek. Wild Haven has an extensive trail system and high-quality natural habitat with 136 species reported.

The third is Phillips Lake Trail at A. Perry Phillips Park, a 1.6-mile gravel trail loop that encircles the 40-acre Phillips Lake. Birders appreciate Phillips Lake as the body of water attracts grebes, geese and other waterfowl, especially during the winter months. Meadowlarks, mockingbirds and a variety of sparrow species are all common at the park year around. Local birders have identified 170 species at A. Perry Phillips Park.

For those uninitiated in the birding world, birdwatching is an outdoor activity that requires little to no sport-specific gear, though a pair of binoculars or a spotting scope can certainly enhance the experience. It's also highly recommended to dress for the weather, whenever and wherever you go, to make your experience as pleasant as possible. If you're heading off-trail, insect repellent is also a handy tool to have in your arsenal. More helpful tips can be found at www.

GreatMissouriBirdingTrail.com.

For more ways to enjoy Columbia's outdoors or to learn more about Columbia's public outdoor spaces, head to www.VisitColumbiaMO.com or call the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau at 573-441-5572.

Kyle Wayne Stewart

The original seed source of our plants is from wild populations found growing in Missouri. Our plants are as “wild” as we can possibly keep them.

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Oak Regeneration and Wildlife

Oaks are an iconic species in Missouri and critical for wildlife and wood products. Over 100 species of wildlife feed on acorns from woodpeckers to deer and many more use the woods for their homes. Foresters are concerned about the future of oaks. There are many mature oak forests but a lack of white oak regeneration and young forests. Forests of many ages from dense young stands to old mature trees are critical if you want to have grouse and a great variety of many songbirds.

White oak needs sunlight to regenerate. This can occur in several ways: prescribed fire, timber harvests, windstorms, and disease all let sunlight reach the forest floor and allow white oak to grow. When you have a closed canopy, many other species take advantage of the shaded environment. Hard (sugar) maple, ironwood, elm, and others become dominant when the oaks are gone. These are less valuable for wildlife. None of them produce acorns! They are also less valuable for forest products!

The University of Missouri Forestry and the Mo Grouse Chapter of QUWF will have a Forest and Wildlife Management Workshop and tour on Saturday, Sept 9, starting at 8:30 am at the Bill and Margie Haag property near Rhineland. This field day will provide management actions you can take to create this critical habitat and maintain a healthy forest. Topics will include the role of prescribed fire, invasive species management, practices to keep oaks healthy and growing, why we need young forest and much more.

On the driving tour, you will be able to see regeneration cuts, shelterwood cuts, unmanaged areas, harvested areas, Timber Stand Improvement areas, and much more. There will be foresters, wildlife biologists, TSI contractors, loggers, and landowners who have been doing these practices available to answer questions.

Attending this workshop will entitle you to one free site visit from a professional consulting forester to help get you started in managing your timber. To register or for more information contact Brain Schweiss at the MU School of Natural Resources at 573-882-4775 or Tom Westhoff at 573-289-0242.

Bass Baits for Giant Brown Trout

Ifirst remember meeting Duane Doty a little over 10 years ago at the Conservation Federation of Missouri’s (CFM) Media Camp. CFM annually invites outdoor media personnel to a multi-day fishing and tourism event in early February hosted by Phill and Marsha Lilley, owners of Lilley’s Landing Resort on the shores of Lake Taneycomo near Branson. Organizations such as the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Division of Tourism, Conservation Heritage Foundation, Bass Pro Shops and Branson Tourism partner to media members for fun days of fishing and fellowship provided by some of the finest fishing guides in the area.

Duane was revered by the other guides and was booked 300+ days a year, kind of like the trout fishing Godfather or the Trout-Whisperer. As an avid bass fisherman, I perked up real fast when I heard about catching giant brown trout on jerkbaits, lures normally reserved for bass and walleye fishing.

What I learned was that Duane had been experimenting with buying unpainted jerkbait blanks and then giving them his homemade custom paint jobs. They were a hot topic and not-for-sale, at any price. The only way you could get your hands on one was for Duane to give one to you and he usually reserved that only for his guide customers.

Fast forward a couple of years, Duane was kind enough to give me several of his jerkbaits in a couple of different paint patterns and sizes. These baits were gorgeous. Almost too pretty to use – ALMOST. I saved them back for just the right time and conditions. Duane catches giant brown trout year around and he has told me that he prefers to throw them up close to the shore of steeper banks, especially ones with a little shade on them (giving the big browns a good ambush point) and give the lure a couple of quick jerks and pause then working the lure back to the boat in a jerk-jerk-pause rhythm.

I prefer throwing the Rainbow 110+1 Rainbow pattern or baitcasting tackle but might like throwing a Sculpin pattern 660 on spinning gear even better. Years of testing and development have yielded multiple colors and sizes matching the best lure for the current flow conditions.

You can view and now buy Duane’s custom-painted Signature Series jerkbaits at the resort tackle store, Lilley’s Riverside Fly and Tackle Shop or online at Lilleysriverside.com. At as much as $29.95 each you might think wow that’s a pricey fishing lure but what is it worth to you to catch a fish of a lifetime? You make the call.

You can contact Duane Doty directly at Ozarktroutrunners.com or 417-294-8672, visit the tackle shop in person at 367 River Lane, Branson, Missouri 65616, or call direct at 417-334-6380 to book a proven guide through the resort or rent a pontoon or jon boat for a fishing adventure on your own.

Phil Lilley and his staff are always ready and willing to help you catch more trout on Missouri’s beautiful Lake Taneycomo and you will want to check out their daily YouTube fishing report “OneCast” for tips, techniques and the current fishing conditions.